Hybrid tea rose plant named ‘Witharoma’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided that forms on a continuous basis attractive long-lasting fully double white blossoms which are pink at the margins. The strong spicy fragrance of the blossoms is particularly noteworthy. The buds are ovoid-shaped. The vegetation is very vigorous and leathery and the plant displays a bushy growth habit. The disease resistance is good. The plant is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Hybrid Tea Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Witharoma.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the present invention was discoveredduring 1999 at Durham, N.C., U.S.A., while present in a nursery amongplants of the ‘Hilaroma’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,494). The newplant was discovered as a spontaneous branch mutation of unknowncausation that was found growing on a single plant of the ‘Hilaroma’cultivar. I was attracted to the new plant primarily because of thedistinctive appearance of the blossoms that were formed on a singlebranch. Had I not discovered and preserved this mutation, it would havebeen lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance on a continuous basis attractive        long-lasting fully double white blossoms which are pink at the        margins and display a strong spicy fragrance,    -   (c) exhibits very vigorous vegetation,    -   (d) displays very leathery green foliage having a matte finish,        and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for providing attractive        ornamentation in gardens.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage to provide distinctive ornamentation in parksand gardens.

The strong spicy fragrance of the blossoms of the new cultivar isparticularly noteworthy. The disease resistance is considered to beabove average for a Hybrid Tea Rose plant.

The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from its ‘Hilaroma’ancestor. For instance, the blossom coloration is considerably differentthan that of the ‘Hilaroma’ cultivar. More specifically, the ‘Hilaroma’cultivar forms bicolored Naples Yellow blossoms edged with Venetian Pinkon opening, which turn to Neyron Rose when fully open.

The new cultivar has been found to undergo asexual propagation by therooting of cuttings at Durham, N.C., U.S.A. and at Wasco, Calif.,U.S.A., by budding. Such asexual propagation by the above-mentionedtechniques has shown that the characteristics of the new cultivar arestable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation fromone generation to another. Accordingly, the new cultivar undergoesasexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Witharoma’, and will be marketed underthe SECRET'S OUT trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of the new cultivar of the present invention duringSeptember, 2008. A fully open blossom of the new cultivar is depicted indetail. The illustrated specimen was approximately two years of age andhad been asexually reproduced by budding Wasco, Calif., U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) except where ordinary colorterms are utilized. Such common color terms are to be accorded theircustomary dictionary significance. The description is based upon theobservation of plants of the new cultivar having an age of approximatelytwo years during the summer while being grown near West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A.

-   Class: Hybrid Tea.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Bushy.        -   Blooming habit.—Substantially continuous.        -   Height.—Commonly approximately 1.4 to 1.5 m at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 1.4 m at the end of the            growing season.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: Commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 166A,            and strongly stained with greenish coloration. Adult wood:            Commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Thorns.—Size: Medium. Quantity: Commonly very few or near            nonexistent on young wood. Color: Reddish-green on young            stems and reddish with greenish tips on adult wood.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, somewhat wide, and linear.        -   Petioles.—Commonly approximately 3 cm in length on average,            the upper surface is reddish-brown on young foliage and            reddish-green on adult foliage, and the under surface is            reddish-brown on young foliage and medium green on adult            foliage with the rare presence of reddish prickles.        -   Leaflets.—Shape: Generally oval. Number: 3, 5 (most often),            and 7. Serration: single and regular. Texture: Very leathery            with a matte finish on the upper surface. General            appearance: Dense foliage. Color (young foliage):            Greyed-Purple Group 187C on the upper surface, and            Greyed-Purple Group 183D on the under surface. Color (adult            foliage): Yellow-Green Group 147A on the upper surface, and            Yellow-Green Group 147B on the under surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 5 blossoms            per stem, and most often 1 to 3 blossoms per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Smooth, relatively straight, approximately 6.5 to            7.5 cm in length on average, very few prickles commonly are            present, and reddish-green in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Commonly bear leaf-like extensions at the edges, the            upper surface is tomentose and greenish stained with reddish            coloration towards the middle, and the under surface is            light green widely stained with reddish coloration.        -   Buds.—shape: Ovoid. Size: Large and approximately 4 cm in            length on average prior to opening. color as calyx breaks:            for both surfaces commonly Yellow Group 4D with Red Group            39C at the edges.        -   Flower.—Shape: Cup-like and fully double. Diameter:            Approximately 12 cm on average. Color (when opening): Upper            surface: Yellow-White Group 158C, Yellow Group 3A at the            point of attachment, and Red Group 36D at the petal edges.            under surface: Yellow-White Group 158C, Yellow Group 2C at            the point of attachment, and Red Group 36D at the petal            edges. Color (in full bloom): Upper surface: White Group            155C, Yellow Group 3B at the point of attachment, and Red            Group 36D at the petal edges. Undersurface: White Group            155C, and Yellow Group 3B at the point of attachment. Color            (at end of blooming): Upper surface: White Group 155B, and            Yellow Group 2B at the point of attachment. Undersurface:            White Group 155B, and Yellow Group 2B at the point of            attachment. Fragrance: Very strong spicy. Lasting quality:            The blossoms commonly are long-lasting on the plant or when            cut and placed in a vase. Petal number: Approximately 28 to            30 on average under normal growing conditions. Petal shape:            Classic for a Hybrid tea rose. Petal texture: Consistent.            Petal arrangement: Imbricated. Petal drop: Good with the            petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. Stamen            number: Approximately 110 to 125 on average. Anthers:            Strawlike and normal. Filaments: Commonly of irregular            heights, reddish at the base, and yellow near the anthers.            Pistils: Approximately 95 to 110 on average, and commonly            extend above the stamens. Styles: Commonly of irregular            heights, tomentose, very twisted, and generally whitish in            coloration turning to reddish near the top. Stigmas: Whitish            in coloration. Receptacle: Smooth, light green in            coloration, and in longitudinal section in the shape of a            funnel at the dehiscence of the anthers.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Very vigorous and bushy.        -   Blooming.—Abundant and continuous.        -   aptitude to bear fruit.—Poor.        -   resistance to frost.—Good.        -   resistance to diseases.—good.

1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized by the following characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance on a continuous basis attractive long-lasting fully double white blossoms which are pink at the margins and display a strong spicy fragrance, (c) exhibits very vigorous vegetation, (d) displays very leathery green foliage having a matte finish, and (e) is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in gardens; substantially as shown and described. 